2009 St. Petersburg International Folk Fair photos

SPIFFS (the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society — www.spiffs.org/) “is the only independent multiethnic organization of its kind in the United States. It was founded in 1975 as an umbrella organization of ethnic groups who joined together to present a festival during the US Bicentennial Celebration.”

In addition to their annual Folk Fair–this years just concluded this past weekend–they provide a number of educational, entertainment, cultural pride, and translation services for the community through the following activities:

The Speakers Bureau – Folk Artists and ethnic resource volunteers visit area schools and other community venues to discuss the heritage of their ethnic group, share their music, dance, arts and crafts, and sometimes demonstrate ethnic food specialties.

The Language Bank – More than 100 individuals handling more than 30 different languages and dialects serve as translators and interpreters for the community in courts, hospitals and schools and assist local city and county officials with translations for visiting dignitaries.

General Assembly, Each of the SPIFFS ethnic member groups have a delegate and an alternate delegate to the SPIFFS which meets once a month at the Sunshine Center in downtown St. Petersburg.

Folk dance groups Many of the member groups have dance groups which are available to perform throughout the community. One of these groups is the SPICE (St. Petersburg International Children’s Ensemble), for the other entertainment groups, please contact SPIFFS office.

Learn more about SPIFFS by visiting their website at www.spiffs.org/. Below are photos of some of the special events, performances, and booths at the 2009 Folk Fair.

GRAND PARADE PARTICIPANT FROM AFRICAN-AMERICAN GROUP

Special Subjects

Grand Parade slideshow & album 53 photos
Volunteers slideshow & album 21 photos
Thai Orchids slideshow & album 13 photos
Foods slideshow & album 49 photos

SVETLANA NIKONOVA (DOMRA) & VLADIMIR ZAKHAREVICH (BAYAN)

On Stage

Hmong dancers slideshow & album 23 photos
Polynesian dancers slideshow & album 6 photos
Vietnam dancers & album 6 photos
Thai dancers slideshow & album 4 photos
Stage of the Americas slideshow & album 10 photos
Native Americans slideshow & album 18 photos
Gulf Coast Enzianer Schuhplattler Verein slideshow & album 53 photos
Russian & International Dancers slideshow & album 88 photos
Nikonova & Zakharevich slideshow & album 3 photos
Celtic Performers slideshow & album 4 photos
Student Groups slideshow & album 24 photos
Student Art Work slideshow & album 9 photos
Awards & Paul Revere slideshow & album 13 photos

HANDMADE DOLLS FROM HMONG VILLAGE BOOTH

Booths

African slideshow & album 5 photos
American folk and Pennsylvania Dutch slideshow & album 6 photos
Bubble Tea slideshow & album 2 photos
Columbia slideshow & album 3 photos
Fiji slideshow & album 10 photos
German slideshow & album 8 photos
Hmong slideshow & album 12 photos
India slideshow & album 7 photos
Jerk Hut & Jamaica slideshow & album 10 photos
Pakistan slideshow & album 5 photos
Peru slideshow & album 10 photos
Philippines slideshow & album 9 photos
Poland slideshow & album 11 photos
Portugal slideshow & album 8 photos
Russian Heritage slideshow & album 6 photos
Scots slideshow & album 3 photos
Taiwanese American Cultural Organization slideshow & album 7 photos
Thai slideshow & album 27 photos
Turkish slideshow & album 6 photos
Vietnam slideshow & album 9 photos